Helminthes Parasites among the People in Mithuawa VDC of Rauthat, Nepal

Abstract

The present study was carried out with prepared questionnaires to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding intestinal helminth parasites in people of Mithuawa VDC of different age groups Altogether 450 stool samples was collected from randomly selected people of Mithuwawa VDC with different occupation including 240 males and 210 females. Present study showed that intestinal helminth infections among people in Mithuwa VDC of Rauthat, characterized by higher prevalence of soil transmitted helminth parasites. Out of 203 positive stool samples the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides (18.44%) is the highest of all the parasites followed by Ancylostoma duodenale (14.67%), Trichuris trichiura (10.2%), Hymenolepis nana (8.67%) and the lowest prevalence of parasite were Strongyloides stercoralis (2.89%) were found. The prevalence rate of intestinal helminth parasite infecti male (50%) was found to be slightly higher than female (39.52%). The prevalence of helminth parasites was significantly higher (x2=8.57, p>0.05) in male than in female. Positivity of the intestinal parasitic infection is dependent on age factor. Hence the highest prevalence was found in 60 above age group people (51.85%) where as the minimum prevalence observed in people of age group 30-40 (41.57%) years. Out of 203 positive samples, (65.02%) showed single infection, (22.66%) showed double infection and (12.3%) showed multiple infection. The maximum prevalence of intestinal parasites were in, people of ward no. 6 who were mostly illiterate lack of knowledge about parasites and their effect, field defecation, occupation, sanitary condition, used of contaminated water and poor personal hygiene.